Chapter Text
“Just as I suspected. There is nothing.”
Izzy sighed. There was no possible way in hell that what he said was true. Especially with the man standing in front of her.
The first thing that came to mind when she laid eyes on Crowley was the fact he reminded her of a cult leader. Come on: this man showed up out of nowhere when they least expected it, talked about himself a lot, and began to dismiss them multiple times. Not to mention, everyone in that room was wearing the same robes as the girls, and it didn’t stop the cult allegations.
Crowley closed the book he had in his hands. “Your homeland is not listed on any map at any point in history.” He leaned towards the girls, narrowing his eyes. “Are you both sure that you hail from this place? Are you lying?”
Izzy stood up from her seat abruptly. “Of course we’re not lying!”
“Then it’s possible that you both come from an alternate planet. Or is it another dimension?” Crowley theorized.
“Alternate dimension?!” Nyx and Izzy exclaimed.
“Show me everything you brought with you,” Crowley asked. Izzy quickly patted her pockets. Besides her beanie, her phone and earbuds somehow came with her. She looked over and noticed Nyx had only her phone and what looked like an epipen.
Izzy tried calling someone, but it failed to go through. She then noticed that there was no service on the phone. She muttered a curse.
“Well, this is quite the predicament,” He said. “I cannot have two people with no aptitude of magic bumbling about my magic academy. And yet, as an educator, I loathe to expel someone without a penny to their name, or any ability to contact their guardian…” Izzy was almost surprised by the gesture. “Truly, my grace is boundless.”
–And there it is. Izzy thought, rolling her eyes. She then noticed Nyx giving him a look she couldn’t read. Oh God, Nyx. Surely you’re not falling for this?
“Ah! There is a vacant building on campus!” He recalled. “It used to be a dorm. But that was a long time ago, until now. With proper cleaning, it should be habitable enough. Out of the profound kindness of my heart, I shall allow you two to live there for the time being.” Gee, this guy sure loves to talk about himself, doesn’t he? Izzy thought with sarcasm.
“Now come along then! I shall take you both there myself!” He said as he turned around and walked towards the door. “It’s an older building, but it has a bit of…character.”
Nyx glanced at Izzy. “What do you think he means?”
Izzy sighed and then shrugged. “It can’t be that bad, can it?”
“Well, it certainly has a lot of…character.” Nyx finally said once they arrived at their temporary living space.
A bit too much if you asked me, Izzy thought.
The place was surrounded by a gate. The grass was dead, the trees were barren. And the house itself? Hadn’t been lived in for what looked like an eternity.
“Isn’t it delightful?” He asked. Not really, Izzy thought, giving him the side eye.
“This place is the Ramshackle dorm.” He continued. “Come along, you two.” He pushed both the girls towards the house, allowing them to go inside first. The inside was befitting the name Ramshackle. It was worn down, and filled with mostly unusable furniture.
“This should keep the elements at bay for the time being,” Crowley said, closing the door. Nyx shivered, and Izzy noticed there were a lot of tiny holes. She turned to give the headmaster an ‘are you serious’ look. Crowley cleared his throat.
“Now! I should be returning to my research. Do find something to keep yourselves busy. But don’t wander around campus! Ta-ta!” He waved goodbye and was out the door before they could even say something.
After that, they stood for about a minute. “What do we do now?” Nyx asked, breaking the silence.
“Well, I guess we should see what’s usable or not.” Izzy walked over to the nearest functioning couch and smacked it with a nearby pillow cushion. Sure enough, a cloud of dust burst up. Izzy had to face away from it to avoid inhaling it.
“It’s like a desolate snowscape…” Nyx observed. “Except it’s dust.” Izzy sighed, and then brushed aside any remaining dust before sitting down. Nyx sat down besides Izzy. “So, about earlier…” Nyx trailed off.
Izzy turned to Nyx. She remembered that Nyx did tackle her. “Yeah, why did you save me back there?” Izzy asked. She thought that Nyx wasn’t the type to do something like that.
“...I don’t know myself really,” Nyx answered. “I wouldn’t want anyone to get run over, right?”
It took a while for Izzy to think about it, but she nodded. “That is something we can agree on.” She thought about her grandparents. They must be wondering why Izzy wasn’t home yet. “Well, if this ‘truce’ needs to continue, we need to talk about some ground rules going forward.”
“Hey, what do you—” But Nyx got interrupted by something that landed on her face. Izzy looked outside.
“Oh great, it’s raining,” Izzy muttered. Guess that will have to wait. She got up, and before she could look for a bucket or something, she heard a noise. It sounded like a window breaking, and it was seemingly coming towards them. She hid around the corner, despite Nyx's questioning glance.
She saw the shadow of whoever entered. She quickly grabbed whoever it was. It screeched so loud that she was ready to throw it, but then she noticed that the thing she grabbed was small, and fur that was wet from the rain.
“Grim?!” The two exclaimed.
“Mraah! Put me down!” He began to squirm in Izzy’s grasp, but she held firm. Eventually, she had enough, and decided to hold him by the scruff.
“I thought you had left campus grounds.” Izzy glared at the gray cat.
“As if some guards could take care of me! The Great Grim will never quit!” He began to kick his hind legs upward. “Now let me go!”
Izzy began to walk towards the door, but Nyx stopped her. “Wait, Izzy,” she said, putting a hand on Izzy’s shoulder. “Shouldn’t we…hear him out first?”
“Why should we?” Izzy asked, raising an eyebrow.
Nyx rubbed her hands together. “Well, he came in here for shelter from the rain, and it would be pretty harsh if we threw him back out there, right?” Izzy looked at Nyx, then looked at Grim, who nodded earnestly. A part of her wanted to throw out the cat, but Nyx had a point.
She sighed. “...Fine, he can stay here for the night.” Nyx smiled in relief, while Grim cheered. Right as he did, Izzy decided to let go of him. He yelped as he fell to the ground. She ignored the look that Nyx was giving her as she walked back to the couch.
Nyx and Grim both followed suit, the former walking to sit right next to Izzy. Grim went to stand on the uneven coffee table.
“So, why are you so determined to go into this school?” She asked, crossing her arms.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he responded. “I was born to do this! I’m a magical prodigy who’s got the makin’ of being one of the greatest mages who ever lived! So I’ve been waitin’ and waitin’ for that black carriage to come and yet…” his expression changed to a saddened one as he trailed off. Izzy couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for the little guy. “Hrmph! That Dark Mirror’s got no eye for talent! That’s why I took the initiative and came here myself!”
Izzy glanced at Nyx, who was looking at the cat like she wanted to hug him. Izzy rolled her eyes and stood up straight in her spot. As she did, a drop of water landed on Grim’s head.
“Mrao! C’mon, scoot over! I’m getting dripped over here!” He jumped between the girls and shook himself off. Both of the girls yelped. Unfortunately, another drop of water landed on his head. “Bwah! Another hole in the roof! These flamin’ ears are like my trademark, y’know? I can’t let them get doused!”
Izzy sighed and got up. “Guess it’s time to find those buckets, then.”
“I dunno why you don't just magic those holes away. You could have it fixed in half a jiff.” Grim said as he followed her. “Ahhh, right. You two can't use magic at all. Pffft, man you're useless.”
She glared at him. Is he asking to get thrown out? “Why don’t you do it yourself, then?”
“Heh?! You want ME to help YOU TWO?!” Grim said, appalled by the thought of helping them. “HA! You’ve got the wrong idea. I’m just a stranger takin’ shelter from the rain.” He looked at his paws. “But if ya gave me a can of tuna…that’s another story.” Izzy raised an eyebrow. “But I don’t work for free!”
“Alright then,” she turned down one of the hallways in the dorm. “I’m going down here to see if there’s any buckets.”
Grim jumped up on her shoulder. “Let's go, henchman!”
Guess he’s going to be like this for the rest of the time he’s here. Izzy sighed, as she walked down, leaving Nyx alone.
It didn’t take long for her to fumble around for a light switch. “Is there seriously no electricity in this building?” She asked herself. Izzy ran her fingers along the walls until she felt something and flipped it upwards. “Nevermind.”
Slowly, the lights flickered on. Then she heard Nyx scream. Grim nearly fell off of Izzy's shoulder.
“What the heck was that?!” he exclaimed. Nyx then came running down the hall towards them, her face pale.
“I-I was alone, a-and th-then–” she stammered, gripping onto Izzy’s robes.
“Woah, calm down,” Izzy made Nyx let go of her robes. Izzy put her hands on Nyx’s shoulders. “Tell me what happened.”
“Uh, guys…?” Grim was looking at something behind them. Izzy turned around, as she came face to face with three gloating ghosts.
“BWAAAAAAH!” they all yelled, both Izzy and Nyx backing away as the ghosts laughed.
“He he he…. Bwah ha ha ha!” The first ghost laughed, the biggest out of the three. “We hadn’t had visitors in ages!” Izzy was taken aback. Holy shit, I didn’t know you could see ghosts in this world! She thought internally.
“All the people who used ta live here ran away!” the second ghost said, the smallest of them.
“We’re gonna die!” Nyx sobbed.
Grim shivered. “Eeeeep! I’m a master sorcerer! I ain’t afraid of no ghosts!” he jumped down from Izzy’s shoulder and blew out one of his flames.
The ghosts dodged. “Nuh-uh, not even close!” The third and tallest ghost taunted. Grim kept on blowing his fireballs everywhere, but the ghosts kept dodging, teasing him as they did.
“Argh! They keep disappearing and reappearing!” Grim yowled in frustration.
“Don’t keep your eyes closed!” Nyx exclaimed. “You’ll burn down the whole building!”
Izzy rolled her eyes. “How about we point out where the ghosts are coming from, and you attack them?”
“As if I would get help from you, humans!”
Izzy gave him a pointed look. “We’ll give you a can of tuna if you manage to beat them…”
Nyx’s expression changed from shocked to confused. Luckily, Grim took the bait. The next several minutes were about the girls calling out where the ghosts were coming from, and Grim sending an attack at them. At some point, Izzy swore she could hear Nyx humming the Ghostbusters theme.
As soon as they disappeared for real, the three living beings in the house all collectively let out a sigh of relief. They all thought it would be over.
Unfortunately, someone came in through the front door. A familiar voice rang in the halls.
“Good evening. In another gesture of my immense kindness, I have brought you both dinner and clothes.”
“Oh great,” She muttered under her breath. She and Nyx walked back out to the lounge, followed by Grim.
“Why is that creature here?!” he exclaimed, pointing a golden claw at the cat.
“Takin’ care of yer ghost problem. You're welcome, by the way!” Grim responded, crossing his paws across his chest.
“Well, he snuck back onto campus, and it was raining, so–” Nyx trailed off. The headmage put the tray of food aside.
“I do seem to recall that there was a mischievous ghost problem here,” he recalled. And you didn’t bother to tell us? Izzy thought angrily.
He pulled out something from his pocket. He held what looked like a small bottle. “Would you all be so kind as to show me?”
“No!” Izzy and Grim answered. But he ignored them as he undid the cork and swallowed the liquid inside.
“I shall play the role of the ghost!” he said, as his body became transparent and began to disappeared.
The three groaned. Here we go again…
After doing that song and dance once more, the trio was exhausted. Izzy’s throat hurt from all that shouting, and she could only assume Nyx felt the same. Grim was lying on the ground, his legs spread out.
“Quite impressive,” Crowley said aloud. “Even though you two weren’t chosen by the Dark Mirror, you all have extraordinary talent!”
“Headmaster, would it be alright if Grim could attend?” Nyx asked.
“WHAT?! A monster living in our school?!” he said, clearly shocked to be asked this
“Please sir!” Nyx pleaded. “What if there was another ghost problem?”
Crowley thought about it for several moments. “...I suppose I cannot deny your plea,” he finally said.
“Myahh?! Really?” Grim exclaimed.
“Now let me be clear,” he stated. “Under no circumstances would I allow a monster to be enrolled into Night Raven College, and especially one that hasn’t been chosen by the Dark Mirror. Nor can I let you girls freeload on the grounds.”
“Just what exactly do you want us to do?” Izzy asked.
“Now, allow me to explain,” Crowley said. “It was the Dark Mirror that transported you two here. Therefore, this school does bear some responsibility for your well-being. So I will allow you to remain in this dorm, free of charge.”
Izzy tilted her head as she stared at the bird man. There’s a catch, isn’t there? Izzy wondered.
“However, you will need to pay for your own food, clothing, and incidentals. As to how you will do so, penniless as you are... Ah. Ah ha. Yes, a fine plan.”
There it is. Izzy raised her hand. “Lemme guess…we have to do some odd jobs on the grounds?”
“Why, that’s exactly it! All three of you will work as the janitorial team on campus!” He proclaimed. Izzy could practically hear Nyx crying on the inside. “I'll also allow you lovely ladies to use the library, so that you may study and research ways to return home. How soundlessly charitable I am. Ah, but only when your work is over, of course!”
At this point, Izzy was getting sick of this guy.
“I…suppose it’s a fair enough deal.” Nyx said. “I have some experience cleaning.”
“What kinda deal is that?!” Grim complained. “I wanna put on one of those sweet uniforms and be a student, not sweep up people's junk!” Before he could start another argument with Crowley, Nyx scooped him and covered his mouth.
“Don’t be rude, Grim!” She said, looking back at the man.
“Besides,” Izzy stepped in. “Do you want to get thrown out again?” The cat grumbled, but it took him several moments before shaking his head.
“Wonderful, then I beseech you all as the newest members of the janitorial staff!” Crowley once again waved goodbye and left them alone.
After that, the girls decided it was a good idea to eat quickly, clean up the house a bit, and get to bed. Nyx—not wanting to be alone for the first night—had managed to convince Izzy to stay in the same bedroom for the night.
The room had a fireplace and a mirror hung on the wall above it. Two beds were positioned on the right of it. Izzy immediately claimed the bed that was closest to the door. After getting changed, the girls got in their individual beds.
Hmm, Izzy pondered. If what he said earlier was true, then I would have to go to the library whenever I get the chance.
She looked over at Nyx and sighed. “Going back to our conversation before we got rudely interrupted–” she looked at Grim, who was on Nyx’s bed. “–I just want to lay down some ground rules.”
Nyx tilted her head. “Like what?”
“For starters: don’t wander off alone. It’s an all boys school, and I don’t trust them.” Izzy said, listing things out on her fingers. “Second, come to me if you find ways to get home. I don’t care if it sounds fake, I want to use anything at our disposal.”
“Hmm? Why’s that?” Grim asked, but she ignored him.
“Lastly, and this is very important,” she leaned forward. “Don’t. Flirt. With the guys here!”
“Why would you think that?!” Nyx asked.
Izzy rolled her eyes, got up and leaned close to Nyx’s ear. “Because if you think we got isekaied into one of those those dating sims I’ve heard about, I don’t want to treat the guys like that!”
Nyx pouted. “Even if I did, I would still treat them with respect.” Izzy rolled her eyes. She wasn’t dumb; she knew that a lot of guys at their school liked her. The only problem was how Nyx could deal with it.
“Well, if you are wondering, don’t worry about the guys here.” Nyx said, reading her thoughts. “I can handle them. I’ve dealt with guys at school.”
She sighed. Something told Izzy otherwise, but she brushed it aside. She walked back to her bed and got under the covers. She heard Nyx mumble a goodnight before turning the lights out.
Izzy stared at the ceiling for several minutes. She had a gut feeling that these jobs weren’t going to be easy, especially at a college that teaches magic.